Espinosa's approach from left side looks right

This season, the buzz around second baseman Danny Espinosa's game has been his inconsistency as a switch hitter.

Espinosa has struggled hitting from the left side. Coming into Thursday's game, Espinosa was hitting .188 from the left side and .365 from the right.

The Tampa Bay Rays knew of his struggles as well. So, with two outs and two runners on base in the sixth, Tampa Bay walked Adam LaRoche to get to Espinosa and make him hit left-handed against right-hander Joel Peralta.

Yes, that is the same Peralta who Tuesday night was ejected for having a significant amount of pine tar in his glove. The umpires had been alerted by manager Davey Johnson, who had "inside information" from when Peralta was a member of the Nationals in 2010.

Peralta was suspended by Major League Baseball for eight games for having the illegal substance in his glove. Peralta was allowed to play because he appealed the suspension prior to first pitch Thursday.

The incident caused bad blood between Rays manager Joe Maddon and Nationals skipper Davey Johnson. But none of the shenanigans spilled over into games two or three.

Against Peralta on Thursday in the series finale, Espinosa was able to get a huge hit from the left side, smacking a two-run double to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead they would never relinquish. The Nationals defeated the Rays 5-2.

Despite troubles from the left side, Johnson has maintained his confidence in Espinosa. Johnson said he saw the 25-year old getting better before each game.

"He has been really scalding the ball in batting practice, compared to the past," Johnson said. "I like his approaches in BP. He is hitting where it is pitched and he is hitting it awful hard."

Espinosa said, "Yeah, I am definitely feeling a lot more comfortable. I am starting to get my hands working really well, better pitch selection. I feel like I am having better at-bats."

Espinosa pumped his fists in the air after the game-changing hit, showing his emotion toward the Nationals' dugout. Sometimes, all it takes is one hit to erase the memory of early season struggles.

"Going into that at-bat I was ready, ready to go," Espinosa said.

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MLB Team Report - Washington Nationals - NOTES, QUOTES

--INF Mark DeRosa played third base Thursday for Class A Potomac and batted third as he makes his first rehab start while he recovers from a left oblique strain. DeRosa, who has been on the disabled list since April 28 and has missed 46 games, went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a lineout to right field.

--RHP Stephen Strasburg is the first Nationals starter to register six consecutive victories since Livan Hernandez from April 24 to May 9, 2005. With 10 punchouts, Strasburg hit double-digit strikeouts for the sixth time in his career. His 9-1 record is also a career high.

--RHP Drew Storen threw his latest bullpen Wednesday at 85 to 90 percent and said he experienced "no pain" as he recovers from bone chip removal in his right elbow. Storen will throw all fastballs during his first live batting practice of the season Friday.

--3B Ryan Zimmerman got a big base hit in the seventh after three consecutive strikeouts. Zimmerman's single and stolen base later turned into a key insurance run when LF Roger Bernadina brought him home with a RBI double.

--SS Ian Desmond had another RBI single. Desmond's 36 RBI are second behind Adam LaRoche (43) for the team lead.

BY THE NUMBERS: 17-12 -- Nationals' record thus far in their stretch of 32 straight games in which they play NL East or AL East opponents. The Nationals are 8-6 against the NL East during that span and 9-6 against the AL East with three games at Baltimore beginning Friday.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know he always wanted to close. He has been very resilient. Everybody wanted to give him a day off, (but) I didn't want to take that chance." -- Manager Davey Johnson on why he went to Tyler Clippard to close again. Clippard got his 11th save of the season.

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MLB Team Report - Washington Nationals - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Henry Rodriguez (strained right index finger) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 6.

--C Carlos Maldonado (lower back strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 30.

--INF Chad Tracy (right groin injury) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 27. He underwent surgery May 29, and he will be out until mid- to late July.

--C Sandy Leon (high right ankle sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 15.

--3B Mark DeRosa (oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28. He began a rehab assignment at Class A Potomac on June 21.

--RF Jayson Werth (broken left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 28. He underwent surgery May 7, and he will be out until late July or early August.

--RHP Drew Storen (inflamed right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 3. He underwent surgery April 11 to remove a bone chip, and he might return at the All-Star break.

--1B Chris Marrero (hamstring surgery in November 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list April 3.

--RHP Cole Kimball (right shoulder surgery in July 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list April 3. He is expected to miss at least the first half of the season.

--C Wilson Ramos (torn ACL in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list May 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 15. He had surgery June 1 to fix a torn meniscus, and he needs another operation to repair the ACL. He is done for the season.